"Pitching is at a premium," said GM Frank Wren. "It's so hard to get pitching because there are a limited amount of guys. There are a lot of guys being bantered around out there, and they're not really available because teams have not determined whether they're in or out. In some cases, they haven't determined whether they can sign them or not. It's really a tough market."

Lester, 28, is in the middle of the worst full season of his career. His 4.80 ERA is more than a full run higher than his 3.67 career mark, and his strikeout rate (7.6 K/9) is his lowest since 2008. The good news is that his 2.6 BB/9 is a career-best. Lester is owed $11.625MM next season with a $13MM club option for 2014.

Bowman says the Braves appear to be much more interested in Zack Greinke than Ryan Dempster, but they will not mortgage the future for a rental player. Atlanta is also in the market for bullpen help and Bowman opines that they may check in former Brave Omar Infante.

As someone who enjoys following prospects as much, or more, than the majors, I wouldn’t be against them trading Lester and/or Beckett in general, but I wouldn’t call it “unloading” to get rid of your two best pitchers, and it would have to be for a substantial return (and both guys are having down years, so that would be hard to get since you would be selling low on them, which is never a good idea).

It would also essentially mean throwing in the towel on this season, and probably next. And at that point you also try to trade Ortiz, Ellsbury, and anyone else with any value at all who isn’t under control for several more years (Ross, Aviles, Sweeney, Shoppach, and several relievers).

I think at some point, it’s time to think about rebuilding anyway. If we can get Delgado or Teheran in a trade for Lester, it gaps that rebuild since both are major league ready now.

Ellsbury, I’ve said a lot on this board, SHOULD be traded for a SP if possible. It would be such a smart move considering they won’t be in the market for him when he is a FA and his value won’t be higher.

Maybe, but he’s also just back from an injury, so I think it makes more sense to try to move him in the offseason (other teams are going to be skeptical that last year was at all real, so take a chance on him playing well for the rest of this year, and even if he doesn’t his value wont go down a lot because they are already working on the assumption that he’s not really that player).

I still think that he has pretty good trade value now if they wanted to trade him. It’s just that if they think that he is a 30 hr speedy leadoff type then they won’t get the value they want, and a team would be nuts to give up that cost, he never had the projections for 30 hr; if he repeats ill believe it, until then he is a 10 hr speedy leadoff.

I dont understand why people want to trade Jacoby? He’s a 5 tool player and probably the player who brings the most fans. (Big Papi, Pedroia, Ellsbury) He is a lot of sox fans favorite player. He is so much fun to watch and performs at a high level. We will have money at that point and we could look to trade Crawford and lock up Ellsbury who is more productive (at this point) and a little younger/more exciting. He will not cost CC money and we will have Dice K off the books, Beckett/Lester following after, Big Papi possibly two more seasons and John Lackey closer to the end of his contract. There are ways we could keep Ellsbury and I believe Cherington has a plan too and will make it happen! I don’t think we will trade Ellsbury. Jackie Bradley Jr is VERY similar to CC not Ellsbury, making CC expendable. Just my opinion. I think we need to lock Ellsbury up ASAP.

Ellsbury is going to test free agency, so locking him up before then isn’t really an option, and I think most people assume that he will end up somewhere else once he hits free agency. He is from the west coast, so people assume that he would prefer playing closer to home, and Boston sets a value on a player of what they think they are worth and seldom goes a penny over that, so all it will take is one team valuing Ellsbury higher and he’s gone (and some assume that with the way things have happened in the past he would take an offer from another team even if they just matched the Red Sox offer).

The fact that they have JBJ who will be ready at some point next year only serves to fuel the speculation about him being traded.

(Bradley is nothing like Crawford, and he’s not much more similar to Ellsbury; he’s a high OBP guy with averagish speed who can steal 20ish bases based on instincts and smart base running)

If you don’t understand why people are talking about trading Ellsbury, then you really, REALLY do not understand the BUSINESS of baseball. Seriously!

If you think that Ellsbury is going to sign an extension, you’re crazy.
Ellsbury and Boras have made it eminently clear that he is going to test the free agent waters after 2013. And the chances that he re-signs with the Sox are quite low, IMO. The best way to maximize the return on losing Ellsbury is to trade him before the start of next season, so that the acquiring team is able to keep the comp pick if/when Ells hits free agency.,

Problem even if they decided to go into rebuild mode is the major prospects (other than Lavarnway) are at least a year and a half away, other than maybe Jackie bradley and even pushing him, he’s still at least a full season away.

Not a good idea to try and move *your* players for someone’s prospects and expect them to be what you have watched fully for several seasons mature in (this case) the Red Sox system.. Teams hold onto the prizes and will hype the busts.. Andy Marte comes to mind, Wes Gardner another.

Think long and hard before going into rebuild mode without multiple top candidates ready to step right in at the AA and AAA levels you are certain are ready and have watched for several seasons under your own instructors eyes.. An ellsbury, Bucholz, Bard, Lowrie and Masterson who helped out within a couple years of each other.

I wouldn’t mind moving some pieces myself who are not fits and won’t be resigned, plus have positive trade value.. The Salty’s they have Lavarnway ready to step in for and Salty still has a full season of control left.

Check and see how much of beckett’s deal they would have to pay and what, if anything they could get. see if they could get a top prospect for lester perhaps. If so? Then contemplate moving, but only if they can get back a tremendous prospect package in return.

Move Ellsbury before the 7/31 deadline since he is showing is fully healthy and should draw back something nice with a season and a half of control *if* the return is nice.

There would sill be ways that the saved money could be redistributed in the off season. Sanchez still even. Saved money at catcher with Lavarnway.

Pastornicky is more of a utility player. Better suited for 2nd or CF than SS. He should’ve started the year in AAA. But the Braves were strapped on the budget and didn’t have much of a choice. Once his bat catches up he should hit .260-.270ish. He is a good base runner but not very aggressive, could swipe 20 or so bases given enough playing time. He would interest the Brewers a lot more the Red Sox.

Trade the whole staff if you are going to trade Lester. 1 bad year and everyone is jumping off the Tobin Bridge. Do what the fans want right… not what the team needs. hell that’s what they did with Tito. Quick Cherryboy listen to the fans and the Boston media…hurry hurry sell sell sell!

Im a Big Red Sox fan (yes, still), but I am also a fan of baseball and know Atlanta has some nice young arms to be had for a Jon Lester. Time for Ben to prove he’s not Theo Epstein Jr. and improve this team!

We ARE a .500 team. If we have the most runs scored in the league and a very good pen, its telling you we need pitching. 2 or 3 out of 5 pitchers is not doing a good job thats why we go an a winning streak then go on alosing streak, win lose, win lose.

Beckett has to go, he does not have much value right now, but the team buying might really really want him and be in NEED and overpay we see this all the time. Trade Lester although I’d rather keep him and get rid of the inconsistent Buccholz. Put Ellsbury and Middlebrooks in separate packages fo a #1, a #2 and prospects. Have Doubront as your #3, Morales as your#4, Call up Lavarnway, He played OF early in his career, Move over Aviles, call up Iglesias for SS, try, get Papi back

Trading WMB away is just plain NUTS!!! If I had to choose between trading away WMB and Lavarnway, I’d trade Lavarnway, because the Sox have Salty, who much as people may not like aspects of his game, actually IS an above average catcher within the scope of the current weak crop of MLB catchers. OTOH, the Sox really do not have a good plan B for 3B. WMB has been the 3B-man of the Sox future for a year or 2, and trading him away now would be outright NUTS!!!

As for Iglesias, they can trade him away in a heartbeat. The Sox do not need the 21st century version of Mark Belanger playing SS!!!

We need at least 2 front line starting pitchers, including at least one ace(Ya know, a P who does not consistently give back the lead) which we don’t have. Ells and WMB, in separate packages will get you an ace or 2 without destroying your farm. You just won’t get as much for Lavarnway. Ells is gone anyways. If Ells or WMB nets you a Felix Hernandez, you do it, right away.

I don’t disagree with you, but like I said, you got to give something”of value” to get something of value” . I remember a time we gave up an “untouchable” player, HanRam, that turned out pretty good, don’t you think….btw our current GM had his hand in that deal.

WMB just took over 3rd, so in essence, yeah it’s pretty close to the same thing and i think Bogaerts could end up at 3B. Love WMB, but he K’s too much has a low BB rate. Is this the Crusis from PSD? I love reading your IGTs and posts. I hope WMB does not get traded but I have a feeling he may be trade bait. If we keep him , I hope he practices a little more patience at the plate.

It’s safe to say that Beachy won’t pitch much of the year, if any. Hudson has an affordable option ($9M, $1M buyout), and Jurrjens is 3rd-year arb eligible, which means he needs to be gone. And it’s quite an assumption that Sheets re-signs with ATL. Yes, we gave him a shot, but don’t be surprised if he bolts for a good opportunity and a decent pay day if he continues these strong starts.

Cherington has said the Sox don’t rebuild and I agree. We don’t sell low on Lester and Beckett like we did with Youk and basically give away a major piece for nothing. Both are FAR more valuable to us staying then anything we would get in return. If they are going to make a move it should be just one of them, and be done in the off season if we miss the playoffs AND only if the intent is to go after another big pitcher. Doubront will probably continue to improve if we can get a Grienke or Hamels to add to Lester or Beckett I would be down for that. We are still very much in it for the playoffs right now.

The Sox uually have to play catch up with Beckett pitching and have to score alot of runs with Buccholz. Somone will give you good value for these two. Then trade for a couple front line right handed starting pitchers and put them in with lefties Lester, Felix, and maybe Morales

You think Lavarnway is going to net us a front-line SP? I may be a Sox fan, but I’m no idiot. I know it takes something to get something. Ells package will net you an ace, preferably a RHP, and WMB package may get you the same, or at least a bona fide #2 SP with a minimum amount of prospects……getting a#1 or#2 w/out one of these guys will take a boatload of prospects. Like it or not we need pitching. We won’t win this year or next w/the rotation as is.

This is the kind of name I want to see the Braves pursue. Up until now, I thought Greinke was the best name, but I would rather have Lester. I DO NOT want Dempster, Garza, Shields or any of those other mediocre pitchers in rumors.

I would love for the Braves to get Jon Lester. I know the guy is having a down year, but playing in Fenway and the AL East is tough. Now the NL East isn’t like the NL Central, but playing in turner field would help him get back to those CY Young caliber numbers.

Now this is the trade I would do, Tommy Hanson, and Sean Gilmartin for Jon Lester. Hanson will be arb eligible next year, essentially being under team control until 2015. By acquiring Lester they will have a legit ace on the staff, a lefthanded power SP.

Hanson is a stud the future ace of the staff for a long time. Just because he gave up 14 runs the last few games isn’t indicative of what type of pitcher he is. The guy is a career 3.53 era and is only going to get better. I would keep him at least for a few more years while he’s still under control and if you can’t lock him up long term then dangle him at the trade deadline in 2014.

I want to agree with you that Hanson is a future ace of the Braves, but I’ve just not seen it. His mechanics have been off and he’s just not doing a good job locating his pitches this year. He’s extremely inconsistent for this stage of this career. I don’t think the Braves should sign him to an extension and being able to trade him in order to get Lester would be a decent tradeoff. Thus the Braves wouldn’t have to deal with Boras.

That being said, seems like Lester has been trending in the wrong direction as far as facing righties and I’m not sure if that’s a long-term concern or not.

I’d propose something like Hanson, Spruilli, and one of the better position players for Lester.

Since 2008 Lester has been a top 10 pitcher in the game, and the 4th best lefty in the game (even including his down year this year) and is under control for 2 1/2 more years at a reasonable price, you don’t get that without giving up a lot.

My apologies, I didn’t realize you had rankings from the Interwebz to support your position. I just checked the mlb.com prospect rankings, and I couldn’t even find Lester anywhere on the list. Then I checked baseball-reference.com and saw that Lester hasn’t even won a game in AAA since 2007. Had I been armed with this information, I would have suggested that the Red Sox offer Lester for a PTNBL and bit of salary relief.

Don’t get me wrong. I’d actually be happy with such a trade. Getting another outfielder doesn’t make a ton of sense right now unless he’s purely a backup… And he’s having too good a year to become a backup.

Don’t see Ross going to the Braves. I’m pretty sure he’s pissed off enough people in that organization from his time in SF and the recent series that while he’d be a nice addition, they’re not big on taking guys who have shown them up.

Ross takes diaz’s place as he is probably going to have have season ending surgery on his thumb. He can be a lefty masher and backup CF. plus he could be a potential candidate in CF next year or in LF.

I know, how crazy is it to want more than one mediocre prospect and one guy who used to be a top prospect but whose stock is falling, for a guy who’s been one of the top pitchers in the game since ’08? “lol” right?